Page 1 of The Long Refrain (Sweet Southern #4)

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BENJI

OCTOBER 2026

N othing is more exhilarating than a good hike. Even the hour-long drive out of Atlanta doesn’t faze me. Fresh air in my face, compacted dirt beneath my feet, yeah, this is heaven. The burn of my muscles is a pleasant bonus when I finally reach the scenic overview.

Taking a deep breath, I let the serenity of nature instill me with peace—calm, quiet, and the absolute placidity of being one with nature.

Until my phone fucking buzzes in my pocket.

Jesus Christ.

Taking another deep, relaxing breath, I pull my phone out of my pocket. The damn thing slips in my sweaty palm for a second, almost falling over the cliff, but I grip tightly as I swipe at the screen. All that for an email from Davis. Wait.

My heart pounds as I open the email.

Benji,

Claire is asking if you can take over the Nolan contract for Trevor due to a last-minute emergency on his behalf. She asks that you do not reach out to Trevor at this time. Please let us know if you’re available for this weekend in Chicago. Standard rate, standard session, with a flight paid for by Nolan.

Please reply if you’re available.

Davis

First off, what the fuck is wrong with Trevor? Second… The options must be down to zero if they’re asking me to spend a night with Nolan, the rockstar who likes to bite. I mean, we all talk, none of us are very secretive about the johns we end up with. Well, except for Trevor. That man would rather drown than admit anything remotely personal about his life.

There promptly goes the blessed high of a good hike. Might as well turn around and head back down. With my headphones snug in my ears, I dial Eli’s number and slip my phone back into my pocket as I carefully pick my way back down the trail.

“Benji!” Eli says enthusiastically.

“Why are they contracting me to Nolan?” I ask, cutting through the pleasantries.

“What?” Eli whispers, voice going scarily low in disbelief.

“I just got an email from Davis that they’re contracting me with Nolan because Trevor’s had a last-minute thing come up.”

“That’s odd.”

Sweat prickles at my hairline as I hurry down the trail. Nervously wiping at my wet forehead, I clear my throat to ask the question I really want to ask. Eli knows everything about all of us, the sensitive ear when we all need someone to talk it out with.

“Do you think I can do it? Trevor’s always said… well. I’m not much into pain play. Receiving it at least.”

Eli sighs thoughtfully. A car horn beeps through his end of the phone and Eli swears softly. I bite my lip to contain my sarcastic quip about Eli’s very bad driving. The fact he still has a license is astounding. He’s got to be one ticket away from attending driving school at this point.

“I think you can do it,” Eli says confidently, although his tone is anything but confident. “If you’re comfortable with it. I’d take him if I could but… he’s a bottom…”

“Right,” I say quickly.

“Also, Trevor told me that he likes it wicked rough. Like to the point that sometimes Trevor gets a little scared by it, but he’s a really nice guy. Just the only way he can get off, I guess. Plus you know… closeted rockstar and all that.”

I listen to Eli ramble as he drives. His points aren’t helping my racing mind at all. Being a fake boyfriend is chill for me. I like to fuck and I like getting paid for it, what’s not to enjoy? But I usually cater to the older guys that want someone sweet, just a boy for the weekend or on their arm. The gentle older guys are my specialty, not the borderline violent rockstars. Those are definitely Trevor’s territory.

But I can take one for the team like anyone else.

“Yeah, I’ll do it. Can’t guarantee how it’ll go if he bites me, though. My little cousin bit me when she was three and I still have war flashbacks.”

“I think it’ll be very different from that ,” Eli says around a loud laugh. “Plus, Nolan is hot as hell. I’m a little jealous. Maybe I could try being a top just for him.”

Mocking laughter bubbles out of me before I can hold it back. I can practically feel Eli’s narrowed eyes sliding through my earbuds. The bottom of the trail swims into my vision, despite the sweat dripping from my hair and down my face. How is Georgia still so fucking hot even in October? I need to move to somewhere freezing. Penguins!

“Are you listening?” Eli all but yells into the phone.

“Sorry, I got caught up thinking about penguins.”

“Of course.”

“They’re cute!”

Eli laughs, but it’s forced. “Of course, sweetheart. Are you going to contract with Nolan? When is it?”

“This weekend. I’m going to let Davis know that it’s fine. I’ll do it.”

“You’ll let me know if you need me?”

I jump from the gravel trail to the concrete of the parking lot with a grin. “Yeah, bestie. Don’t worry about it. I’ve got it.”

Eli makes a questioning sound in the back of his throat. We hang up just as I reach my Jeep. Lifting up the back panel, I grab a towel out of my duffel bag. The sun beats down on me as I wipe the sweat off. Thankfully, I had the forethought to place a towel on the driver’s seat before even starting my hike.

I forgot to pack a clean T-shirt… again. I never learn. Oh well, I’m just driving home, I don’t need a shirt. Hopping into the driver’s seat, heavy rock music drifts through the speakers as the Jeep rumbles to life. Before pulling out of the parking lot, I shoot Davis an email back letting him know I’ll take the contract with Nolan. A weekend in Chicago doesn’t sound too bad.

The weekend starts off great since I’m treated to first-class seats. Wow, this Nolan guy spares no expense for his escorts. Now I get why Trevor usually gives the guy whatever he wants. I have my fair share of johns that dote on me, but usually, it’s in the form of fancy hotel rooms, sometimes even lavish gifts. I have a drawer of Rolexes in my apartment back at the high-rise. I’ve never worn them, but the thought is nice.

Departing the plane takes the least amount of time ever since I’m already at the front. An older gentleman in a suit stands at the bottom of the escalator by baggage claim with a sign that says, Benji White .

I skip up to him with a charming smile. “I’m Benji!”

The man takes one look at me and snorts in apparent disbelief. That’s kind of mean. I’m one second away from telling him such when he takes my bag from my shoulder, leading me out of the airport.

“Is the hotel far away?”

The man shakes his head. “Just downtown. Not far.” He peeks at me with his eyebrows furrowed. “The agency sent you? I knew Trevor wasn’t coming, but I expected something a little more… like him.”

“Blond?” I ask, confused.

The man snorts yet again, adding to my rising irritation. “When’s your return flight?”

“Sunday morning.”

“We’ll see about that,” the man utters under his breath as we make our way towards the parking garage.

Obviously, I’m not getting anywhere with this guy. He loads me into a giant blacked-out SUV and starts driving without another word. Awkward silences are worse than dental cleanings. I’d honestly rather have a hygienist all up in my mouth than sit through an awkward silence that I can’t fill, which is probably why I talk through my dental cleanings.

We pull up in front of a lavish-looking hotel. I probably should’ve dressed better, but being dressed up on a flight is yet another thing that I hate, so jeans and a ratty T-shirt it was. I’ll just change when I get into the room.

The old man turns around, hand on the passenger side headrest. He fixes me with a very hard look, but I just stare back, uncaring about whatever his problem with me seems to be.

“Let me know if you need me to pick you up early.”

I grin with all my teeth. “I’ll see you on Sunday morning.”

Grabbing my bag from the seat beside me, I slam the door of the SUV with enough force that it rattles my teeth. The porter opens the door for me with a small snarl of his lip. All these people can suck it.

“Benji!”

The sound of my name freezes me halfway to the reception desk. Glancing around the fancy first floor, a man in a pristine suit with a sweet smile wanders towards me.

“Chris, Nolan’s manager.” He holds his hand out to me as his gaze sweeps over me.

We shake hands firmly, both of us sizing each other up by our grip. “Shouldn’t you be at his show?”

“Show’s not far. I’ll get you up into the room, go over some of the rules, then I’ll bring Nolan back here for you.”

Rules? What rules? Chris promptly turns on his heel and heads towards the expanse of elevators at the other side of the sparkling marble lobby. He swipes a card over a reader that allows him to press PH on the pad. I assume that means penthouse. Nice. Chris taps away at his phone the entire ride up.

Sliding my duffel bag higher up my shoulder, I follow along behind him like a good little escort. Chris unlocks the door, opening it with his shoulder so that I can walk in first. The room is dark except for the glittering lights of the Chicago skyline through the windows.

“Alright, first things first, I assume you were made aware of what Nolan expects?” Chris asks, still typing away at his phone screen.

“I signed a nondisclosure agreement with Claire.”

Chris glances up at me with a deep frown. “That’s not what I asked.”

I tuck my hands into my jeans pockets to stop from fidgeting. “I’m aware of what Nolan expects.”

“Good. There are only two penthouses on this floor, we’ve rented out both. Nolan has his show tonight, off tomorrow, and then he leaves on Sunday. So, you’re his for the weekend.”

I always hate getting spoken about this way, like because I’m being paid for sex, that takes away every ounce of me in my body. Like I’m just for them to use, to discard when they’re done. Maybe that’s true for some, but that’s never what I seek out as an escort.

“I’m aware. I’m an escort,” I say with as little bite as I can.

Chris glances up from the screen at my tone, approval written all over his face. He pockets his phone with a soft smile. “You’ll do great. I’ll be back here with him around midnight if the meet and greets don’t go too long. Get settled in.”

He disappears out the front door, leaving me standing alone in the marble foyer. I shake out the restless energy that accumulated throughout my travels and decide to show myself around. After a quick tour of the penthouse, I drop my bag off at what I assume is the master suite. With a couple of hours until Nolan arrives, maybe I can squeeze in a run at the penthouse gym, a long shower, and maybe even a small dinner.